UTSA running backs coach Everette Sands reveals the first thing the coaching staff did after getting the job

[caption id="attachment_24113" align="alignright" width="191"]Cb6g8ZWVIAAOOiN Photo Courtesy UTSA Athletics[/caption] UTSA running backs coach Everette Sands gave the final chalk talk presentation to the football coaches in attendance at THSCA Coaching School. The former South Carolina running backs coach spoke about ball security, pass protection and the power running game. He went through plays and drills for coaches to use at the high school level. This week was important for the UTSA football staff. The Roadrunners hired their second-ever head coach earlier in the year when Frank Wilson accepted the job. Wilson was previously the running backs coach at LSU. The coaching staff is comprised of mostly outsiders to Texas high school football. Coaching school allowed Wilson and his staff to meet with coaches throughout the state and reiterate the message that the Roadrunners want to recruit Texas. “Relationships are huge in this profession. Any time we get a chance to build our relationships with Texas high school coaches, we want to do that. So, this week was big for us and a lot of fun,” Sands said. “These coaches are vital to success for any college program. This event gets coaches from all areas so it gave me a chance to meet some coaches outside of my recruiting area.” UTSA hit the ground running in recruiting, finding a few late additions for the 2016 class before focusing on the current 2017 class. The Roadrunners rank higher than the program ever has in recruiting rankings at this point in the year. Sands and the rest of the staff took quick steps to reach out to coaches around the state. “The first thing we did was start reaching out to the coaches in our specific areas and let them know we’ll always have an open-door policy in San Antonio. When you go to a new area it is important to figure out who the players are and the coaches know where the talent is,” Sands said. “Opening that line of communication with coaches is important.” Coaches are used to teaching players through drills and film study. Sands admitted that it is a little different teaching coaches in this setting than a player on the field. “For one thing, these guys’ expertise is much higher than a player. All of these guys are here because they know what to do. We want to talk about what is done and see if there is something we do that is a little different and we pass that on,” Sands said. “Also, we teach players how to do something. Here, I’m talking to coaches about how to go coach something. That makes it a little different because the goal becomes different.” The goal for UTSA is simple – improve. The Roadrunners won seven total games over the past two seasons, prompting a move away from Larry Coker. Sands has Jarveon Williams to lean on in his first year at UTSA. The senior running back became the first player in UTSA history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He and Jalen Rhodes could become a formidable duo in Conference USA. “We have some seniors at the position and one of those is Jarveon. I told him I need him to be a leader. He’s played the most, so guys look to him and I’ve been able to coach him. He’s done a great job so far,” Sands said. “In this day and age, you can’t have a one-headed attack in the backfield. We need a duo and I think Jalen Rhodes can be the second man in that duo.”

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